ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Distribution of Self-Employment Tool kits to PwDs at NCSCDA
The National Career Service Centre for Differently Abled  under the Directorate General of Employment , Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India has successfully organized an event on the distribution of Self-Employment Toolkits to PwD trainees. The event has been held on April 19, 2023, at the NCSCDA office campus in Pokhariput, Bhubaneswar. A total of 64 PwDs with Locomotor Disabilities & Hearing Impaired disabilities received their self-employment toolkits after successfully completing their assessment.
The event is part of the Skill Development Training for PwDs programme, which is being undertaken by NCSCDA, Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities  Department, Govt of Odisha, and Odisha Skill Development Authority , Govt of Odisha. Under this program, free of cost skill development training is provided to PwDs at NCSCDA, Bhubaneswar. All the PwDs who received their self-employment toolkits had been trained under various job roles/trades such as Self-Employed Tailor, Assistant Beauty Therapist, Mobile Phone Hardware Repair Technician & Field Technician- Other Home Appliances.
Smt. Sonalika Suman, Head of Office at NCSCDA, Bhubaneswar, presided over the meeting, and Shri Dillip Kumar Ray, OAS, Special Secretary to Govt, under SSEPD Department, was the Chief Guest. In his address to the PwDs, Shri. Ray encouraged them to make the maximum utility of the training and utilize the Self-Employment Toolkits for earning their livelihood. He also urged them to bring more PwDs to the self-employment and wage employment sphere.
Smt Sonalika Suman, Head of Office of NCSCDA, thanked all the PwDs for participating in the event and encouraged them to strive for self-reliance through self-employment. The NCSCDA is committed to providing equal opportunities to differently-abled individuals and helping them become self-reliant by imparting valuable skills and training. This event is a testament to their commitment towards building a more inclusive society.
RoM
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Ministry of Earth Sciences
SAMUDRAYAAN PROJECT
Deep Ocean Mission has been launched w.e.f. 07.09.2021, as a Central Sector Scheme of Ministry of Earth Sciences with the approval of the Cabinet. Samudrayaan is a project under the Deep Ocean Mission. Under the Samudrayaan project of Deep Ocean Mission, MATSYA 6000 mannedsubmersible design has been completed so far. Under the Mission, Deep water Autonomous Underwater Vehicle  namely Ocean Mineral Explorer  has been deployed for exploration.Deep sea mineral exploration was performed using OMe 6000 AUV during December2022 using research ship Sagar Nidhi at Polymetallic Manganese Nodule  site ata depth of 5271 m in the allocated area of International Seabed Authority at CentralIndian Ocean Basin . About 14 sq km area has been surveyed with all scientificpayloads to generate high resolution seabed features to understand and validate theresource potential at exploration site. About 1 km x 0.5 km area has been mapped using highresolution cameras for quantitative polymetallic manganese nodule resource abundance, distribution and deep-sea biodiversity.
Deep Ocean Mission was approved by the Cabinet with the overall estimated cost of Rs.4077 Crores for two phases of the Mission period during 2021-2026. The allocated budget so far is Rs.1400 crore, out of which Rs.405.92 crores has already been disbursed and an expenditure of Rs.225.35 crores have been incurred.
The details about the findings of AUV exploration survey is as follows:
- High resolution sea floor mapping was conducted at Central Indian Ocean up toa depth of 5271 m with all payloads during 15thand 16thDecember, 2022.Thevehicle was operated in pre-defined 2km X 2km area with all scientific payloadsand acquired data sets for more than 26 hours from 30 m altitude at 5271 mdepth and successfully launched and recovered in the high seas safely.
- For high resolution seabed photography, 1km x 0.5km was chosen and 130photographic lines were completed at 4m spacing by operating the AUV for 30hours at 5m altitude at 5271 m depth during 17th & 18th December, 2022. Datasets were acquired in collaboration with National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research, Goa, National Institute of Oceanography, Mumbai, CSIR, Delhi and Kongsberg, Norway.
- Acquired high resolution details had brought outmanganese nodule distributions and biodiversity at the PMN site.
- Details obtained from AUV are useful to facilitate the resource estimation to target the regionsof high abundance with flat surface and Environment Impact Assessment for thedeployment of deep sea mining machine with collector device at PMN site in CIOB.
This information was given by Union Minister of Earth Sciences, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
Auction of the mementoes extended till the 12th
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has informed that auction of the PM mementoes 2022 has been extended till the 12th of this month.
Responding to a tweet thread by Ministry of Culture, the Prime Minister tweeted:
“This is among the many special gifts I have received over the years. Respecting people’s wishes, the auction of the mementoes has been extended till the 12th. Do take part.”
Ministry of Defence
Supreme Court’s order dated 10 April 2019 on 36 Rafale Procurement Case
Supreme Court has passed an order dated 10 April 2019 on 36 Rafale Procurement Case.
In the Review Petitions, the petitioners have relied upon the documents, some of which could not have been placed in public domain. The Central Government raised an objection that while considering Review Petitions, the said documents may not be considered as they are classified.
In the Order passed by the Supreme Court today, the Court has decided to look into the documents also while deciding the Review Petitions. The Review Petitions are pending and are yet to be heard.
The Supreme Court by a well-reasoned judgement and order dated 14 December 2018 had already dismissed the Writ Petitions.
It is reiterated that the petitioners are using documents with the intention to present a selective and incomplete picture of internal secret deliberations on a matter relating to National Security and Defence. The documents presented by the petitioners are failing to bring out how the issues were addressed and resolved and necessary approvals of the competent authorities taken. These are selective and incomplete presentation of the facts and records by the petitioners.
Government had provided the requisite information as desired by the Hon’ble Supreme Court to the Court and also to the petitioners as per directions of the Court and in the manner prescribed by the Court. Government also provided all records and files as required by CAG. The main concern of the Government is relating to availability of sensitive and classified information concerning National Security in the public domain.
AA/Rajib
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Ministry of Defence
ONLINE COMMON ENTRANCE EXAM FOR ARMY RECRUITMENT AS AGNIVEER AND OTHER CATEGORIES COMMENCES
The Indian Army has transformed the procedure for recruitment of Agniveers, Junior Commissioned Officers and other categories with the introduction of a Computer Based Online Common Entrance Exam as the first step. The online CEE for eligible registered candidates has commenced at 375 Examination Centers in 176 pan-India locations today and will continue till 26 April 2023.
The online exam is being conducted with assistance from Education Consultancy Services India Limited, a Mini Ratna Company under the Ministry of Education.
The technological threshold of youth in the nation has improved significantly and with enhanced network connectivity and the proliferation of smartphones, the youth is now empowered to undertake an online exam instead of traveling long distances to appear for physical exams. The changed methodology will ensure an increased focus on the cognitive aspect during selection and prevent chances of malpractice. It will have wider outreach across the country and also reduce the large crowds seen during recruitment rallies to make them more manageable & easier to conduct.
The new recruitment procedure will be carried out in three stages. In stage one, all candidates who have registered and applied online on www.joinindianarmy.nic.in will undergo Online Common Entrance Exam. In stage two, the shortlisted candidates will be called for recruitment rallies from June 2023 onwards in phases at locations decided by respective Army Recruitment Office where they will undergo Physical Fitness Test and Physical Measurement Test. Finally, in Stage three the selected candidates will undergo Medical Test. Thereafter, the final merit list of the successful candidates will be declared.
The modified recruitment system will make the recruitment process more streamlined, transparent and is designed to optimally exploit the latest IT infrastructure available in the nation.
Prime Minister's Office
PM pays tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Jayanti
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Jayanti. The Prime Minister also recalled bring ashes of Shyamji Krishna Varma back to India from Switzerland in 2003 and getting his reinstatement certificate from UK in 2015.
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said;
"महान क्रांतिकारी और स्वतंत्रता सेनानी श्यामजी कृष्ण वर्मा को उनकी जयंती पर श्रद्धांजलि। देश को गुलामी से मुक्त कराने के लिए उन्होंने अपना जीवन समर्पित कर दिया। कृतज्ञ राष्ट्र आजादी की लड़ाई में उनके योगदान को कभी भुला नहीं पाएगा।
Tributes to Shyamji Krishna Varma on his Jayanti.
I consider myself blessed to have got the opportunity to bring back the ashes of Shyamji Krishna Varma back from Switzerland in 2003 and receive his reinstatement certificate during my UK visit in 2015. It is important that young India knows more about his courage and greatness."
Ministry of Finance
SEBI investigating dealings in shares of 58 companies for violation of extent rules
As on February 28, 2023, Securities and Exchange Board of India  is investigating the dealings in the shares of 58 companies for violation of SEBI  Regulations, 2003, which includes market manipulation and attendant unfair trade practices. This was stated by Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
The Minister further stated that SEBI has informed that it does not identify shell companies.
Prime Minister's Office
PM thanks President of Afghanistan
The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has thanked President of Afghanistan, Shri Ashraf Ghani for his contribution to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
"Thank you Afghanistan, for contributing $ 1 Million to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund in solidarity with our South Asian neighborhood. Tashakkur President Ashraf Ghani”, the Prime Minister said.
VRRK/ VJ
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Prime Minister's Office
PM attends prayer meet at Gandhi Smriti
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi attended a prayer meeting earlier today at Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi.
The Prime Minister tweeted;
“Took part in a prayer meet at Gandhi Smriti earlier today.”
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister inaugurates four Newly Constructed Buildings of KendriyaVidyalayas
Around 4000 Students will be benefitted with these newly developed campuses in the states of Odisha, Rajasthan and Haryana – Education Minister
Union Minister for Education Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ virtually inaugurated the newly constructed buildings of four KendriyaVidyalayas on Thursday through Video Conferencing. The four KV buildings inaugurated in three states are KV Nayagarh , KV Mahuldiha, Rairangpur , KV Hanumangarh  and KV No. 3 Faridabad .
Addressing the ceremony Live through Video Conferencing Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said that the constructed at a total cost of about Rs. 70 Crores, these four KVs have been running in temporary buildings till now. Around 4000 Students will be benefitted with these newly developed campuses in the states of Odisha, Rajasthan and Haryana, he added. The Minister extended his warm wishes to the Students, Parents, Teachers, Principals and Members of Vidyalaya Management Committee. He said that these new buildings equipped with modern facilities will further strengthen the teaching-learning process in the four KVs and open new scope for our Students. ShriPokhriyalspecially requested the State Governments to expedite the process of land transfer for all such approved KVs which are running in temporary buildings.
ShriPokhriyal informed that all the four new buildings of KVs have been constructed as per ‘Green Building’ norms and facilitated with Rain Water Harvesting System to ensure maximum water conservation. Buildings are constructed barrier free for the easy access to Divyang people. Ample space for Sports and Physical Activities has been allotted for encouraging students towards fitness.
The details of newly constructed KV Buildings are as follows:
1. KV Nayagarh 
This Vidyalaya was established in the year 2010-11. It has been running in a temporary building from class 1 to 12. KVS has constructed a magnificent building with a cost of Rs. 16.39 Cr having all the modern facilities. At present there are 62 KVs in Odisha State.
2. KV Mahuldiha, Rairangpur 
This Vidyalaya was established in the year 2016-17. It has been running in a temporary building from class 1 to 11. KVS has constructed a magnificent building with a cost of Rs. 16.06 Cr having all the modern facilities. At present there are 62 KVs in Odisha State.
3. KV Hanumangarh 
This Vidyalaya was established in the year 2014-15. It has been running in a temporary building from class 1 to 10. KVS has constructed a magnificent building with a cost of Rs. 16.06 Cr having all the modern facilities. At present there are 77 KVs in Rajasthan State.
4. KV No. 3 Faridabad 
This Vidyalaya was established in the year 2003-04. It has been running in a temporary building from class 1 to 11. KVS has constructed a magnificent building with a cost of Rs. 20.19 Cr having all the modern facilities. At present there are 34 KVs in Haryana State.
Vice President's Secretariat
Vice President arrives in Gujarat on two-day tour; attends Rann Utsav today
The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar and Dr Sudesh Dhankhar arrived in Kutch, Gujarat today on a two-day tour to the western Indian state. They were welcomed by Shri Jagdish Vishwakarma, Minister of State, Govt. of Gujarat and other dignitaries at the helipad near Dhordo Village.
At the Tent City, Dhordo, Shri Dhankhar interacted with local artisans and folk artists. Thereafter, he along with Dr Sudesh Dhankhar witnessed the grandeur of the sunset at White Rann where the duo also took a ride in a camel cart.
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1626948348661092356?cxt=HHwWiMDS3ea5ipQtAAAA
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1626950807274020864?cxt=HHwWgIDT6fTIi5QtAAAA
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1626952286357590016?cxt=HHwWgMDU7YCfjJQtAAAA
https://twitter.com/VPIndia/status/1626956415813451778?cxt=HHwWhIDU2a-PjpQtAAAA
Later on, the Vice President witnessed cultural performances by tribal & folk artists at Tent City, Dhordo.
Tomorrow, Shri Dhankhar is scheduled to visit Dholavira, an archaeological site dating to Indus Valley Civilisation Days.
YP/GP/JD
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Ministry of Science & Technology
The chirp of the crickets may soon be their species’ I-cards
The Research By Dr Ranjan Jaiswara, an Inspire Faculty Fellow ,will help understand evolutionary relationships among nearly 140 species of field crickets from India
The chirp of the cricket may soon be used to monitor their species diversity. Scientists are establishing an acoustic signal library that can help track the diversity of these insects.
Morphology-based traditional taxonomy has gone a long way to recognise and establish species diversity. But it is often not sufficient in delimiting cryptic species-- a group of two or more morphologically indistinguishable species  or individuals of the same species expressing diverse morphological features . Therefore, identification solely based on morphological features leads to underestimation or overestimation of species diversity.
In order to overcome this challenge, Dr. Ranjana Jaiswara, a Department of Science and Technology  Inspire Faculty Fellow at the Department of Zoology, Panjab University, is working to establish a field crickets acoustic-signal library which can be used as a non-invasive tool in species diversity estimation and monitoring. The library will be a digital ones and can be used through mobile phone application for automated species recognition and discovery as well as documentation of new species of crickets from India.
Dr. Jaiswara’s research as a DST-INSPIRE Faculty addresses the problem of cryptic species by using advanced tools in an integrative frame in delineating species boundaries.
These tools include acoustic signals, DNA sequences, and phonotactic behavioural data in studying species diversity. She uses field crickets as the model organism. In her research published in Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, she has shown that species-specific bioacoustics signals are a highly efficient and reliable tool in marking species boundaries and it can be used to get an accurate estimate of species richness and diversity estimate of any geographical area.
Dr Jaiswara has documented that the issue of cryptic species can be addressed economically with the basic skill of bioacoustic signal and statistical analyses. These integrative approach-based studies have led to the discovery of several cryptic and new species of crickets from India, Brazil, Peru and South-Africa.
Field crickets are one of the most commonly used model organisms in the field of neuroethology, behavioural ecology, experimental biology, and acoustics because of their unique ability to produce loud acoustic signal by rubbing of highly specialised forewings against each other.
Dr Jaiswara plans to build a phylogenetic relationship and understand evolutionary relationships among approximately 140 species of field crickets known from India. This study will provide an evolutionary frame structure to the scientific community at a global level.
Fig: Fieldworker looking for crickets in Cave.
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4545.3.1
For more details, Dr Ranjana Jaiswara  can be contacted.]
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister greets the people of Chattisgarh on its formation day
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted the people of Chattisgarh on its formation day.
Describing it as a treasure of natural beauty, Prime Minister wished that the state, a confluence of various cultures, shall continue its stride on the path of progress.
Ministry of Science & Technology
Scientists Discuss Application of Nano-Technology in Quantum Devices, Quantum Materials, Energy Conversion & Storage at National Conference
Scientists working on nano-materials and students from across the country discussed trends and progresses in the physics of nano-materials emphasising on the application of nanotechnology in quantum devices, quantum materials, energy conversion, and storage at a two-day National Conference.
“Electronic structuring of nano-materials is a very crucial area which has immense applications in quantum devices, quantum materials, energy conversion and storage and lots of young people with dynamic ideas are showing keen interest in it,” said Professor DD Sharma, Scientist at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and a world-renowned expert in the field while speaking at this conference on “Physics of Nano Materials .
The conference was organised by the Institute of Nano Science and Technology , Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology , Govt. of India in hybrid mode during 20th and 21st August 2021 in Chandigarh, India, was attended by 100 participants including 20 expert speakers from various academic and scientific institutes across India. It covered the diverse fields of physics related to nanoscience and nanotechnology.
Prof. Amitava Patra, Director INST, stressed that the conference was an excellent platform for eminent scientists, academicians, as well as students & young researchers to exchange notes on research in Materials Physics and can also provide a platform for young researchers for collaborative work.
Dr. Suvankar Chakraverty, HoD Quantum Materials and Device unit , INST, and joint convener of the conference highlighted that the conference would provide an opportunity to researchers to pursue novel scientific endeavors through collaborations between different institutions and would also help them take advantage of facilities like their newly established QMaD unit which could satisfy the need of quantum materials in the country.
“It would build a bridge between scientists working at various prominent institutions,” Ehesan Ali, convener of the PNM conference, pointed out.
Prof. Arindam Ghosh from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, Prof. Rajesh V. Nair from Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar, Prof. Tanushree Saha Dasgupta from S. N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences shared their expert knowledge on various topics of quantum and nano-materials. Dr. Sharmistha Sinha, HoD Chemical biology unit INST, and Dr. Kamalakannan Kailasam HoD Energy and Environment also participated in the conference. Young students took part in an elaborate poster session organized during the conference.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
The refurbished UK-built unique Paddle Steamer of heritage value at SMP Kolkata with corporate and recreational facilities will be shortly open to the public
A Paddle Steamer built in 1944 in UK's Dumbarton Shipyard, named 'P S Bhopal' of length of about 63m and breadth of 9.2m was being used as a training vessel by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata  at No.22 KPD. With the completion of the lease agreement with the Training Institute in the year 2019, SMP Kolkata wanted to refurbish this vessel which has a heritage value and open it to Public, said Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP Kolkata. Accordingly, SMP Kolkata went for a long term lease of the vessel which was at that point of time in a dilapidated condition and did not have its own propulsion.
Long term lease was selected through open tendering with the condition that the vessel will remain a property of SMP Kolkata throughout the period of the lease.
As per the lease condition, 'P S Bhopal' will remain in the river moored adjacent to the shore or jetty and will be self propelled with its own power. The craft will have an exhibition space, restaurant, small assembly etc.
The said vessel is in the verge of Completion and few trials in the river have taken place to ensure its safety of operation with passengers on board.
SMP Kolkata is planning to inaugurate the said refurbished vessel, the first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent beginning of next month, according to Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP Kolkata.
Though the Paddle is not operational now, the basic structure of the vessel has not been altered and new main engines with propulsion has been installed so that the vessel can move in the river with passengers on board so as to bring the real feel of the vessel when built in 1944.
MJPS
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